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Celebrating heroes

Photos from Liberty Regional Medical Center and Winn Army Community Hospital show ways in which health care workers were celebrated during Nurses Week and Healthcare Workers Week.

With the constant barrage of information hitting the news regarding the current coronavirus pandemic, those in the front lines of fighting the disease were treated to some much-needed fun and fanfare. As news focused on social distancing and testing, the folks at the Primary Care Clinic at Winn Army Community Hospital and Liberty Regional Medical Center were celebrating their workers.

Nurses week was May 6-10 and Healthcare workers week was May 10-16.

Winn Army Primary Care Clinic Head Nurse Morgan Carter Harvey said they held events throughout the week starting with a red-carpet Oscar themed ceremony where each of their 27 caregivers received a mini Academy Award statue and certificate of appreciation.

Harvey said the staff was also treated lunches by the doctors on staff.

“They had pizza parties, breakfast and we did a thanks-a-latte bar where we served them coffee drinks,” Harvey said. “We did a Winn Spa Day where we had massage chairs and Aromatherapy and stuff set up and we gave them a break throughout the day so they could put their feet up and relax. They really seemed to like that. I think that was their favorite.”

LRMC Director of Community Outreach Rene’ Harwell said they made sure to recognize all their nurses Patient Care Technicians and the Certified Nursing Assistants.

Harwell said the caregivers were recognized on social media, given goody bags, treated to breakfast by Chick-fil-A and lunches from a variety of vendors and the community as well.

“Donations have come in on a regular basis in recognition of our staff’s hard work during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Harwell said.

The staff of more than 100 at the hospital clinics and nursing home were treated to a sundae bar, flowers, and a variety of treats.

Harwell said they even had a special proclamation announced during Nurses week.

“Brenda Jones, BSN, RN, a former nurse of our organization, which was named Liberty Memorial at the time of her employment, presented the hospital with a proclamation for Nurses Week as well as a special proclamation in honor of Ann Groover, who served as a past Director of Nursing at the hospital for many years,” Harwell said.

Harwell called all the LRMC staff heroes during this pandemic.

Harvey said all medical personnel deserved to be recognized for the work they are doing despite the risk involved.

“The fear of bringing the virus home to our families. That is the scary part,” Harvey said. “We want to come to work and do our jobs and do it well. But you always have that fear that you are going to bring it home to your own family.”

Harvey said they’ve also has an outpouring of support from the Winn Army community.

“We’ve had a lot of patients and people in the community make us masks and bring us lunch. A lot of people have been really awesome during this time. And it means the world to us. It really shows that they care and that we have their support and that they understand that we are working hard trying to take care of their family members…it means a lot.”

She said Winn Army Community Hospital has done extraordinary job in preparing and training healthcare workers, from all specialties, in caring for cases of COVID-19.

“You know when you go to nursing school, they prepare you to take care of sick people and you understand that,” Harvey said. “But that has been really something different. This is something you can never prepare for enough. That has been our main mission here is preparing our nurses and really focusing on the skills. Hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. We are ready in case it hit the community hard, but we’ve been blessed that it hasn’t. But we are ready if it comes. My heart goes out to all the people in the medical field, not just nurses. I’m thankful for them and for everything they give every day. They put their patients before themselves and that means a lot and I think the community appreciates it.”